Um...so yeah...
Remember you love me...
The woman, Sue, drives off and I am left watching Bella tend to the man she believes is her father.
She bathes him.
Changes his soiled diapers.
Tries to get him to eat.
A nurse comes in to see to his IV and only then does Bella go in to find something to eat.
There's nothing for her.
She sits down at the ratty table and picks at some stale bread.
I can hear how hard it is through the glass.
She's on the phone as soon as the nurse leaves.
"Jake…what the fuck?" She yells in a whisper.
I can hear his response through the receiver.
"Bella…what's up my girl?" He drawls and the familiarity with which he speaks to her makes me want to strangle him.
"You cut that shit with powdered sugar?" She screeches.
"I was out of corn starch…how did you know?" He asks and I can hear his boredom.
"Because I got jumped at school today by the people I sold it to. How could you do that?" She asks and I can tell by the sound of her voice she is close to tears.
"Listen Bella…I know things are rough for you right now. I was trying to stretch the stash so you could make more. I'm sorry you got jumped, but this is not my fault."
Her head is down on the table and I can hear her tears as they hit the wood surface.
"What am I gonna do now? I have no money to pay Sue." She whispers into the phone.
"I have already told you how much you can bring in with just one night Bella." He says darkly.
I'm on alert.
I don't have to be able to read his mind to know he is up to no good.
"Okay." She breathes and my breath catches.
What did she just commit to?
"Sweet…you letting us go all the way or just…"
"No." She says, a little bit of venom in her words.
"Okay…okay. Whatever you say. Just be here tomorrow by seven. Oh and wear something you don't mind getting dirty." He laughs before he hangs up.
She puts the phone on the table and buries her head in her hands and just sobs.
As I watch her break down, the long gone flutter in my chest revolts.
I won't allow this…
I won't.
He won't people...
Take a breath...